Battlegrounds

Vote by Vote, Obama Works to Boost Va. Turnout

By Alec MacGillis
It has become one of the biggest wildcards of the race -- just how much of an edge will Barack Obama actually get on Election Day as a result of his extensive field organization, acknowledged even by many Republicans to be far superior to that of John McCain?

In examining the contest for the newly anointed swing state of Virginia late last month, The Trail talked to Kenny Klinge, a longtime Republican operative in Northern Virginia, who said he was not actually that worried about the impact of Obama's ground operation on turning out existing voters. Since presidential elections already garner relatively high turnout rates among registered voters -- close to 80 percent in Northern Virginia, compared to about 45 percent in gubernatorial or Senate elections -- there are only so many more supporters for an aggressive campaign to turn out, he said.

What did concern Klinge was Obama's push to register new voters. "It is no doubt they are going to register anything that can walk, talk and chew gum at the same time so that will give them an advantage," he said. "Anyone who they have registered, they will then go grab them by them by the back of the scruff and take them out to vote, and Democrats have always been far superior than Republicans in that operation."

The Obama campaign in Virginia is aiming to register another 150,000 voters in the state, on top of the roughly 142,000 new voters who already registered this year by the end of primary season. It estimates that if 75 percent of the new voters turn out to vote, and 80 percent of them cast ballots for Obama, then the campaign will net more than 60,000 votes, or about 1.75 percent more, which could make the difference in a close election.

Can they do it? The results are starting to trickle in. The state Board of Elections recently posted new registration statistics, updated to the start of August, and they show that the Obama campaign (and anyone else registering new voters) definitely picked up the pace in July. But there is still a ways to go before the campaign meets its ambitious goal.

About 36,500 residents registered to vote in Virginia in July, compared to roughly 28,000 new voters who registered in June. That leaves the campaign 85,500 short of its goal, and with just two months until the early October registration deadline.

The campaign is having a bigger impact in some parts of the state than in others. In Del. David Englin's legislative district in Alexandria, a liberal bastion where Obama is shooting for 80 percent of the vote, there were 882 new registrations in July, up from 522 in June and also well above the number of new registrations in the first two months of the year, when excitement over the February primary led many new people to register.

A breakdown of the new registrations shows that Obama is heavily counting on younger voters -- of the 5,370 voters who registered in Englin's district this year, 1,961 were born in the 1980s, 1,823 were born in the 1970s and 124 were born in the 1990s.

As it happens, The Trail observed some of the organizing efforts in Englin's district late last month, on an evening when four dozen volunteers gathered at Englin's house to make phone calls and go door to door. Englin was tickled by the high volunteer turnout -- a mix of familiar faces from his own local Democratic organization, newcomers who had come out to help Obama, and Obama staffers and out-of-state volunteers giving directions.

"I tell people that we have the opportunity to change the world," Englin said. "It could be very close statewide and if we can pick up 500 votes here and those 500 votes put him over the top with 13 electoral votes, and that changes the course of the most important democracy in the world..."

Following one canvasser, though, showed what a challenge it is to make such incremental gains. Jonathan Krall, 48, a physicist at the Naval Research Laboratory, went door to door in one of the Old Town public housing projects, where he found that the voters on his list were either definitely going to vote for Obama or had moved out, leaving him with little to do but check a mark and move on.

When he came across new residents not on his list, he encouraged them to vote for "my man Obama" -- but did not take down their names to add to the campaign's database, because he said he had not been instructed to do so. Campaign staff later said in an interview that this was not correct procedure, and that ideally the new names would have been noted.

After about 15 minutes, Krall made a few concrete gains, registering Monica Moore, a 29-year-old mother of four who said she had never signed up before because she was "busy somewhere all the time." And a few minutes later, Jasmine Walker, a 25-year-old medical assistant, said she would like to volunteer for the campaign, though she would be limited to phone duty by her pregnancy.

"I want to make a change," she said. "The young people around here need to know there's something different out there. They don't have the best example."

If Obama is registering criminals, I guess he'll be registering the Bush Administration, past and present.

Posted by: Bob | August 15, 2008 1:47 AM

Kudos to the door-to-door volunteer mentioned here! I hope he goes out many more times (note this only covered one of his outings).

According to this article, as a result of his efforts there is now one more Obama volunteer, one more Virginian registered to vote, and the campaign now knows who has moved (saving it from the effort of directing "get out the vote" appeals at the vanished names) and who supports Obama, but should be contacted, in the usual way, just before the election and urged to be sure to vote. Now, multiply those results by a very large number of volunteers, and there is a real impact.

Political scientists call this kind of volunteering a "low-yield activity" which is why a huge number of volunteers are needed to make it a success. Each one gets that "low yield," and together, they add up to something quite significant.

Posted by: Fairfax Voter | August 13, 2008 11:57 AM

"you are so right Barnes

VOTE OBAMA AND DESTORY AMERICA

MAKE THIS A BUMPER STICKER SO ALL AMERICANS WILL KNOW THE TrUTH"

GOOD ADVICE!

VOTE OBAMA AND DESTROY:

America's lopsided economy where the rich get richer as the poor die off.

America's tax breaks for corporations that overprice their products and force americans to use them.

America's government composed of rich snobs and elitists who only want to prolong their time of parasitic feeding of our taxes.

VOTE OBAMA AND DESTROY AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT.

Level it so that we can start anew.

Posted by: Tim | August 12, 2008 1:24 PM

"Fact is, due to the lost delegates in Florida and Michigan, Barack Obama still has not guaranteed the nomination. It is still up to these so called super delegates to actually cast their votes, not just make commitments. Hillary could still end up the Democratic nominee."

The democrats can only do one thing to screw up this years election, and this is it. I will be just as childish as Hillary supports by writing in "Barrack Obama" on my ballot. You want to hand the election to McCain, then go ahead. When McCain wins, I'm taking my education to another country. You people eat where you sh*t.

Posted by: Tim | August 12, 2008 1:21 PM

Keep yelling at clouds Old Man McCain. You'll last about 6 months in office before cancer gets the best of you and your wife pulls the plug after she's sick of changing your diapers!

There's a reason why McSame appeals to mostly uneducated voters. Because only that demographic is stupid enough to vote against their financial interests.

Posted by: Kevin | August 12, 2008 1:03 PM

Does the McCain camp want regime change in Georgia so as to get a leader whose name McC can pronounce?

Posted by: Buck TX Ind | August 12, 2008 7:50 AM

In the 21st century only stupid people will vote for a 72 year old man who cannot remember what he said a day earlier.

Posted by: John | August 12, 2008 12:26 AM

you are so right Barnes

VOTE OBAMA AND DESTORY AMERICA

MAKE THIS A BUMPER STICKER SO ALL AMERICANS WILL KNOW THE TrUTH

Posted by: geogre | August 11, 2008 10:18 PM

Hey!! Maybe Obama can win them over with text voting! LOL!! What a Gimmick man! McCain was right! Obama does these stunts to keep from answering the real issues. Maybe he will give us his detailed economic, energy and defense plans in sky writing! I see his cyberterrorists are still at work!

Posted by: dragonfly777 | August 11, 2008 10:14 PM

If the Democrats wanted to win Virginia in November, or as a matter of fact, win the Presidency; they should not have nominated Barack racist Wright Obama.

Thanks Nancy and Howard. Good job.

Hello President McCain.

Posted by: DEM now IND | August 11, 2008 10:02 PM

Grace-

After reading your post, you do not sound much older than 12. So why the harsh words for the young adults who are not only old enough to vote, but have completed enough of their education to know how to use correct spelling and grammar?

Posted by: Mirth | August 11, 2008 10:01 PM

Obama is basing his half a billion dollar campaign on 128 kids aged 17 getting out of bed and voting in November. They barely make their bed let alone vote.

Obama is registering criminals, felons and homeless people and trying to get them to vote. These people are using their registration card to collect welfare and state assistance.

American media needs to fully vet Obama look at Juhn Edwards. He still has $6 million dollars of voters contribution money. He still has superdelegates that Obama wants.
Obama knew about the Edwards affair but played the game to knock Hillary out of the race.

Obama and Edwards are sleaze balls, unethical, cheaters.

Posted by: grace | August 11, 2008 9:40 PM

"All but two states -- Maine and Vermont -- limit voting rights for people with felony convictions. Some felons are banned from voting until they have completed parole and paid restitution, others for life. Kentucky and Virginia have the most restrictive laws, denying all felons the right to vote, though Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) has encouraged nonviolent offenders to apply to have their rights restored."

~WaPo August 11,2008

Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 9:36 PM

itk01:
which planet do you live on ?

Posted by: dave | August 11, 2008 9:34 PM

For all the sorely uninformed posters here that believe the Obama campaign is registering criminals and illegal immigrants in VA, do yourselves a favor and LEARN YOUR STATE'S VOTERS LAWS!

Anyone convicted of a felony in Virginia does NOT automatically get their voters rights restored once they complete their time served and probation. The ex-con must petition the state in writing to formally have their rights restored before they are allowed to cast a vote.

In Virginia, you must have a valid social security # on the registration application to become a registered voter. How many illegal immigrants would give a fake SSN with their mailing address on a government form?

Every registration form is sent to the Board of Elections offices throughout the state and that government agency is the one who verifies and issues all voter registration cards for new applicants, not volunteers or staff from any campaign or political party.

Any person or group that is working to mobilize the disaffected and disenfranchised citizens of our country to get out and vote should be commended, NOT derided. There is nothing more American than seeing every citizen exercise their civic right and VOTE on November 4th. Sad that some narrow-minded people try to turn it into something ugly.

and put one of the dems favorite sons..John Edwards on the ticket with Obama and the turn out for McCain will be better than ever. I'm sure of it.

Posted by: Jaymand | August 11, 2008 9:21 PM

According to another report, the Democratic activists are hard at work turning out the decided advantage Obama has among the criminal element.

Posted by: Ed
*************************'
So, will most of your family be votin' this year for Obama?

Posted by: Ed is edmucated... | August 11, 2008 9:20 PM

only wish I could win the lottery before Obama gets in. The man's gonna destroy the economy.

Posted by: Anonymous
********************************
Well, since it is apparent that the only way you would make money is through a lottery system, and not brains and hard work, good luck to you, anon

Posted by: 2008 | August 11, 2008 9:18 PM

From the article; "It is no doubt they are going to register anything that can walk, talk and chew gum at the same time so that will give them an advantage, . . . "

10 to 1 that's a neo-Christian mocking the great unwashed.

Posted by: Florida mudfish | August 11, 2008 8:57 PM

Bob Barr is a much more consistent conservative, who doesn't change his opinion to pander. He's got my vote over McCain, who cannot make up his mind day to day what he believes. McCain's ideas are in line much of the Democrat agenda. I won't vote for him.

Posted by: anonymous | August 11, 2008 8:56 PM

Only way Obama can pull this off is with Hillary as the VP. Hillary has to think here she can not run again for eight years! She needs to have a smile on her face a song in her heart scratch her nose with her middle finger(one of Obamas tricks) and answer take your VP and shove it where the sun does not shine! Run in four years, McCain will take this election.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 8:55 PM

"i bet the dems would like to kill pukin about now,snapping everybody awake to the presence of EVIL in the world an the knoledge in the usa that dems are girls."

Man, it's hard to argue with that kind of eloquence.

Oh, and I am the source of Obama's "mountains of money." Me and 2 million people like me. Sorry, yes, we can. We have, we will.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 8:48 PM

the "fun has just begun" (captain beefheart)..

Michelle will be giving the DNC opening night premiere speech...

Posted by: aw | August 11, 2008 8:41 PM

Political Watchdog-
I'm glad you're so politically informed; That Republican would be Chuck Hagel R-Nebraska, not Nagel; I'm sure you and Ed checked the rest of your facts just as carefully.

Posted by: Laura | August 11, 2008 7:59 PM

Phil6 wrote: "Go Hillary!! She's baaacckk......."

Ummmm, yeah, okay. I'm sure it'll be quite a heated contest between Hillary and Ron Paul this fall after they win their respective conventions. Can't wait...

Posted by: whatmeregister | August 11, 2008 7:55 PM

i bet the dems would like to kill pukin about now,snapping everybody awake to the presence of EVIL in the world an the knoledge in the usa that dems are girls.

Posted by: gunclinger | August 11, 2008 7:54 PM

Frank says Obama is highly intellectual, so is Jimmy Carter who was a real disaster for the U.S.

Barack Obama's Everyday mans list:
Grew up getting food with food stamps
Scholarship to every school he ever attended in his life
Net Worth is less than the McCain family spends in three months

Posted by: LaDane84 | August 11, 2008 7:39 PM

Itk01,

You forgot Russia,Iraq, Pakistan,Cuba,
Mexico, South America, and just about every other country you likely view as being anti-American in the extreme.

If you are going to broadcast false information intended for the uninformed general public hopeful misperception, at the very least take the time to do it comprehensively.

Otherwise, the empty of truth scare and fear tactics you so obviously embrace will not reach the level of sorry impact you seek to create.

Try Again.

Posted by: Caryl S. Foster | August 11, 2008 7:30 PM

We are reading a lot of fake news these days. Did you remember the news about Britney's pregnancy, Lindsay's joining on the famous rich men seeking affairs """"""C e l e b C u p i d.c o m""""""""? Is this news true or not? who knows...

Posted by: honey | August 11, 2008 7:30 PM

all you neo nazis oops i mean neo-cons can conserve my tea bags in your mouths

Posted by: conservative -Killa | August 11, 2008 7:24 PM

I believe that we need a President of above average intelligence to lead this nation during our country's restart into the 21st Century. We have had eight years of mediocrity under "W". "W" got into an Ivy League school because of daddy, and went on to maintain a lofty "C" average. Wow, that was impressive. John McCain's father got him into Annapolis, where he finished almost dead last in his class. Obama was in-charge of the Law Review, and a stellar student. We have had an idiot in the White House for the past eight years, and in a time when the next President will be charged with fixing a mountain of problems brought upon us by the great bumbler, I want a President who is smarter than me, and most other Americans. I don't want somebody of average intelligence, I want a braniac. The next President will have to deal with Irag and Afghanistan, a global economy, domestic issues at home, the deficit, Social Security, global terrorism, the economic rise of China, Russia, and India, and a multitude of other issues. Do you really want a guy who almost flunked out to be our next President? A guy who is losing the few good brain cells that he has left to old age? Do you want a continuation of the past eight years? What are you people thinking? I don't know if Obama will be great, good, average or bad, but I will feel confident in my decision to vote for him, because at least he has the education to deal with the trying times ahead. Given the choice...I am going with the guy who is smarter than me, and McCain...it's the best hope for America.

OBAMA 08!

Posted by: Frank | August 11, 2008 7:21 PM

Not news...BO's rock crushing organization out does anyone...all bought with tons of money...it's the source of his mountains of money$$$ that needs to be revealed...ISP have traced funds from the Middle East, Iran, Saudi, China, et al., etc., plus the acts of bundling contributions has come into questions...all of his funding doesn't pass the smell test...

Posted by: ltk01@yahoo.com | August 11, 2008 7:06 PM

Senator Obama also benefits with having had the North Carolina and Indiana primary races ran so late in the season thus the ground game he established to turn out the vote in those states then have been operating ever since much to the great concern of Senator McCain.

The day after those two primaries, I thank Indy and Tarheels for putting Senator Obama over the top and welcomed the residents of these historically republican states to their future as a voting majority for the Democratic Presidential Nominee in November.

Posted by: Caryl S. Foster | August 11, 2008 7:05 PM

I only wish I could win the lottery before Obama gets in. The man's gonna destroy the economy.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 6:57 PM

Great fact checking, as always, by the WaPo. According to the numbers you give in the 4th paragraph, if the Obama Campaign meets it's goal, it will net ~130,000 votes, NOT 60,000 as you indicate.

Well I guess the people in Virginia are not quit as thrilled as those quarter of a million germans who heard Obama. They really understand what he says in english and can not be fooled by an interpreter and a liberal press.

Posted by: musing | August 11, 2008 6:54 PM

The Dysfunctional Obama

Posted: 11 Aug 2008 10:53 AM CDT

What’s the deal with Barack Obama slipping to see his grandmother without his wife and children? The woman who really raised him gets to see him for an hour. She doesn’t see his children, her great-grandchildren, possibly the last time she might be able to see them. And the wife, Michelle, is AWOL.

What is going on here? If this were any other candidate serious questions would be asked about how he treats his family, especially for a candidate whose campaign is based on the storyline of his extraordinary personal history.

Is it Obama himself who doesn’t want his wife and children to see his grandmother, whom he dismissively called a “typical white person”? Or is it Michelle? Does she want nothing to do with the woman who raised her husband? Why does she keep her children away from their great-grandmother? Or does she cooperate with her husband in keeping them away? (more…)

Obama Forgets the Forgotten Middle Class

Posted: 11 Aug 2008 09:00 AM CDT

During the opening night of the Olympics, John McCain broadcast the following ad, titled “Painful”:

Osama, I mean Hussein Obama MAY take Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach as well as some portions of Northern Viriginia (where they may not mind paying a hell of a lot more takes), but he will NOT take the Old Dominion.

Osama, Obama, Hussein, Obama

Posted by: WmJLePetomane | August 11, 2008 6:22 PM

This story would have you believe that there was very little chance to meet the goal for registering the planned additional 85,500 new voters by the registration deadline in two months. However, the reported figures paint a different picture. Each month more persons register than the month before. If enthusiasm to register continues to grow at the same pace as it did between June and July (5%) during August and September, the Obama campaign will exceed its goal by 9,000. ((150,000 x 0.29) + (150,000 x 0.34= 94,500)) (94,500 – 85,500 = 9,000).

Even if you reduce the percentage increase in new registrants to 4% each month, the Obama campaign will exceed its goal by 6,000 new registrants.

All this reveals either the stupidity of campaign reporters or a bias in the MSN to make everything about this presidential race appear closer than they are. The popular vote lead of Obama is not as important as his lead in the States that would make up an electoral vote majority. On that count, Obama is doing much better that anyone in the MSN would like you to believe.

Well at least these misleading reports give solace to the right wing nuts and Hillary diehards who wish it weren't so. But as anyone who has any logic in their head knows, wishing doesn't make it so.

See you at President Obama's inauguration.

Posted by: The Observer | August 11, 2008 6:18 PM

Some of the comments on here are fairly despicable. (particularly the commenter using the name "muskrat.")

It is the patriotic duty of every American of legal age and proper credentials to vote.

Kudos to Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain and/or any other politician, activist, or everyday citizen that registers and turns Americans out to vote.

Posted by: American | August 11, 2008 6:17 PM

Anonymous - you sure have your facts down. I copied them so I can read over your list again. Penny Pritzer is quite involved, isn't she - a very, very rich elitist, as is Nancy Pelosi, for whom Penny Pritzer is also the campaign finance chairman. Nancy Pelosi, Penny Pritzer, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, John Kerry Heinz, the Kennedy's, et al., are all hand in glove with the conspiracy to knock Hillary out of the race and anoint Barack Obama as head of the Democratic party.

Creepy, isn't it? Since those elitists are moving heaven and earth to elect Barack Obama, and the Chicago Way dirty politicians are, also, as well as the Antoin Rezko/Nadhmi Auchi/Saddam Hussein connection from Chicago to London and Baghdad, and the bombing group and the Black Panther group, and the Illinois State Combine group - and the African Americans (whereas Obama really is Arab American, but the press won't ask Obama "that" question.)

A few things about Obama that galls me the most is that enormous airplane he took to the middle east, with specially retrofitted recliners embroidered "Barack Obama, President." Also, secrecy that he gets away with - not attending Town Hall meetings with John McCain. Doesn't his smugness, his narcisstic personality and his "giving people the finger" just get to you?

Obama is willing to meet with all the evil men in the world and he says he will be tough and smart, but he doesn't have the toughness, strength and moxy to meet with John McCain. Whatever. ABO - gw.

Posted by: Iowatreasures | August 11, 2008 6:14 PM

The Dems better round up some more "victims". Hope 'bout some more illegal aliens or felons?

Posted by: muskrat | August 11, 2008 5:

_________________________________________

Convicted felons can vote once they or off parole. Check the facts!. Many Black men that did not know this because the media does not want them to know said nothing. I go out and tell them and they don't believe me so I refer them to their old Parole Officer.

Posted by: Ms.Rita | August 11, 2008 6:11 PM

VA hasn't gone Democratic since 1960. I think it's pretty unlikely. Obama should focus on Florida and Ohio - that's where the election will be decided. Not that I want to give Obama any help, as I think he's too inexperienced to lead this country, and I'm soneone who's voted Democratic since I could vote.

Posted by: Tristan | August 11, 2008 6:07 PM

Some of the comments on here are fairly despicable.

Every person of legal age and proper credentials should vote. Kudos to Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain and/or any other politician, activist, or everyday citizen that registers and turns Americans out to vote.

Posted by: American | August 11, 2008 6:05 PM

"Please just tell American voters what qualifies Barack Obama to run this country. "

What qualifications did George W Bush have to be President? Other than God talking to him.

Seriously, Obama has the right vision and leadership abilities to fix this country. He will shown that he will surround himself with the best and brightest minds in this country to make decisions. That's what matters.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 6:04 PM

as one of the canvassers in englins home, I know that it does make a difference.

The candidate is vacationing in Hawaii.
He should stay there until wed the 27th.....

Mccain was right in his add. Its a rock star candidate, and Mccain aint no rock star.

Posted by: pvogel88 | August 11, 2008 6:02 PM

Barack Obama is the only candidate, cause he has way more experience, he can debate better, he has all the best connections, he likes the right music, he has served his country, and he has been successful at holding the witch Hillary back.

Barack, he's the one yo!!

NO ONE else can win this!!

Barack will fix this DOOMED country!!

GO Obama 2008!

Posted by: Barnes | August 11, 2008 5:56 PM

The Dems better round up some more "victims". Hope 'bout some more illegal aliens or felons?

Posted by: muskrat | August 11, 2008 5:54 PM

www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html

don't know how everyone is voting but this is worth
the time to listen to what this man says..
This is serious, serious, business.......
Better listen...

Posted by: ACT NOW | August 11, 2008 5:51 PM

Obama is an empty suit. From the day he was sworn in to the Senate to the date he declared his run for the presidency, is only 145 days on the job. He has literally no experience. (Not figuratively, literally!) He's not qualified to run a Dairy Queen.

Proven Obama has most liberal voting record in the U.S. Senate. Obama is to the left of Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Russ Feingold, Pat Leahy and Barbara Boxer. That's extremely difficult to do. Obama is a textbook big-government, tax-and-spend liberal. He plans to raise income tax rates, capital gains tax rates, Social Security taxes (by virtue of eliminating the cap), dividend taxes, inheritance taxes, and introduce a slew of new taxes. His plan will destroy this country

To ALL the obamakins and of course the bias CNN & MSNBC I have one simple request. Please spare me the hope and the change bull, and the Bush's third term, McSame etc… Please just tell American voters what qualifies Barack Obama to run this country. What qualifies him to oversee our $14 trillion economy, the largest on earth? What qualifies him to be commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces in a time of war? Please just give me one single solid qualification. And race does not qualify!! That would be one more than anyone including cable media has provided to date. WE ALL HAVE GROWN EXTREMLY TIRED OF MEDIA SAINTED OBAMA….

Obama keeps reaching back to Chicago political past for policy advisers, and pulling one despicable, vile, and even evil “rabbit” after another out of his hat.

The list of Barack Obama’s radical associations is long and it keeps getting longer. Some are now well-known, but many are not. They need to be.

23 years at TUCC with Jeremiah Wright and James Meeks. racist sermons on Youtube.

He chose the most radical church in the country; chose to immerse himself in hard-core ideological radicalism. Never before has this country considered such a radical leftist for its chief executive.

Michael Pfleger and his hateful and race-hating ramblings, Obama met while carrying out his own radical social activism as community organizer at ACORN, (radical organization)

Penny Pritzker, heads Obama camp National Finance Committee was president of Superior Bank - massively failed and she literally bought her way out of jail paying $460 MILLION fine; was the very epicenter of subprime loan scandal” that would come to eat this nation’s financial system alive.

Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson, former head of Obama’s vice presidential selection committee, discovered he benefited from sweetheart loans from subprime king Countrywide.

Tony Rezko certainly and his federal indictments and financial dealing with Obamas of course and William Ayers, US terrorist bomber, Obama-co-lecturer, fellow board member, neighbor, and friend.

Chicago lawyer Mazen Asbahi, appointed as Obama camp national coord for Muslim n affairs also stepped down after news about his stint on the fund’s board - which includes fundamentalist imam - prompting The Wall Street Journal inquiries about relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood and his long personal relationship with Hamas Jamal Said.

Obama desperately needs voters to forget hes the son of a Muslim father who served an incredibly brutal and corrupt Kenyan government; to forget he attended a madrassa in Indonesia and practiced Islam; forget that he campaigned in Kenya on behalf of Raila Odinga, who relied upon chaos, corruption, and violence in his campaign; numerous associations with radical Muslims; forget the photographs of Obama in traditional Muslim clothes, hanging with Muslim radicals such as Mazen Asbahi and anti-Semite Rashid Khalidi.

The mainstream media has frankly put the security of our great country at risk with an Obama coronation media like CNN & MSNBC is the only way Obama managed to steal the Dem nom. It’s extremely concerning that so many Americans could care less about who their candidate really is?? simply amazing and frankly scarey.

But, like the best example of them all - no politician better represented his constituents than Marion Barry.

Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 5:49 PM

Politicalwatchdog,

Are you kidding? Obama is in the lead and holding steady. This certainly is not the smallest lead of any democrat in modern US History. Indeed, Bush was ahead of Kerry in late August 2004. Similarly, Bush was ahead of Gore in late August 2000.

I can't imagine that come November there will be more than a few thousand people nationwide who will sit on their hands because they are still sulking over Hillary. The die-hard Hillary supporters really have been given too much deference in light of their numbers.

Posted by: NYer | August 11, 2008 5:45 PM

Phil6

Are you high on crack?

You've got two choices in November:

1. Vote against your interests and cast a NEO-CON vote for a third Bush/McCain term.

2. Vote for you own best interests and cast a ballot for Barack Obama for President.

Posted by: JBE | August 11, 2008 5:44 PM

It's doubtful that Obama can win Virginia. Then again, he doesn't really have to. If he can keep it close and cause McBane to pour more resources into the state than he had planned or wanted to, "Mission Accomplished," so to speak. Yes, we all know that "The Commonwealth of Virginia is conservative." But VA Republicans have gone far right in a state that has become increasingly centrist. Who knows? If voters 'rock the vote' rather than merely 'rock the registration,' anything is possible on election day. The worse the economy gets, the worse McPlains "I'm not an economist but I have Greenspan's book" looks.

Posted by: Dr. Don Key | August 11, 2008 5:41 PM

Fact is, due to the lost delegates in Florida and Michigan, Barack Obama still has not guaranteed the nomination. It is still up to these so called super delegates to actually cast their votes, not just make commitments. Hillary could still end up the Democratic nominee.

Go Hillary!! She's baaacckk.......

Posted by: Phil6 | August 11, 2008 5:29 PM

What's that, Ed? Obama has an advantage among GOP elected officials?

Posted by: Mister | August 11, 2008 5:26 PM

Just another element of the strategy Obama will implement in the coming historic landslide.

The GOP 2004 strategy (three T's: Terror, Taxes and Turnout) has been modified little, if at all. 'terror' has been neutralized as an issue. 'taxes' is irrelevant. Turnout, for the GOP, is a 'nonstarter'. They can't get ANY enthusiasm going for 'teleprompter Magoo'. They can't even get him to draw anything but the usual Bushco handpicked audiences.

Their best slogan: vote Magoo, he's older than you!

Or; vote McCain for more of the same!

Posted by: VoteMagoo | August 11, 2008 5:25 PM

Obama's only hope to to have Hillary Clinton on the ticket. Nagel, a Republican, and Nunn just won't cut it. He goes into this contest with the the worst single-digit lead in modern U.S. history for a Democrat. That is not good at all figuring the Republican convention and Obama's arrogance will eventually give a big boost to President McCain.

Posted by: Political Watchdog | August 11, 2008 5:22 PM

According to another report, the Democratic activists are hard at work turning out the decided advantage Obama has among the criminal element.